Zero Mass Water uses some nifty science to squeeze potable
water from the air. Founder Cody Friesen, a materials scientist and
associate professor at Arizona State University, spent nearly seven
years developing the Source Hydropanel. Using solar power,
a single system can produce enough drinking water for two to
three people each day—even in desert conditions. —KEVIN J. RYAN

$38

MILLION

Funding
raised

42 INC. ● NOVEMBER 2018 ● ● ● PHOTOGRAPH BY JESSE RIESER

Liters of
clean H20

that can beproduceddaily

5

Cost for each
Source panel

$2,000

number ofdiarrheal deaths causedby contaminateddrinking water each year

502,000

source: World Health Organization

The Moisture Trap

The key is a super absorbent, spongelike material that contains pores of
varying sizes. a fan sucks air from the
outside world and blows it through
the material, which collects water at

20,000 times the concentration of
vapor in the air. a microchip relays data
on temperature, humidity, and water
output, helping the company maximize water-producing effciency.

A Thirst for Knowledge

Friesen was born and raised
in the sonoran desert in
arizona, which led him to
think about water scarcity
at an early age. now, other
students will follow in his
footsteps: several elementary schools in arizona have
installed source panels to
supply their water fountains.

it’s good hands-on science
learning—even if the kids
don’t yet have a frm grasp
on the thermodynamics.

Water, Water, Every where

The source Hydropanel launched in late

2017, and its u.s. customers includecommercial and residential buildings,schools, and private homes. Thecompany has installed systems in low-infrastructure areas of Mexico, Jordan,and the Philippines, and it donatedpanels to Puerto rico after HurricaneMaria. “drinking water,” says Friesen, “isthe greatest challenge facing humanityat almost every economic level.”“The problem statement was: How canwe leapfrog infrastructure, just as cellphones do?” Friesen says. The solarpanel converts sunlight to energy,which heats the material inside andcreates condensation. Water collects ina 30-liter reservoir. Minerals are addedto improve taste and ozone is addedto maintain purity. Then the water ispumped directly to a household tap ora refrigerator’s fll station. Because theunit has its own solar panel, everythingoccurs off the grid. “We’re acceleratingwater delivery from what is basicallythe roman era into the 21st century.”

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